The DTV police certificate, country by country
By the Stay180 team at eBuyz. Last checked 2 November 2026. See the sources.
Since the 31 August 2026 rule changes, every Destination Thailand Visa applicant needs a certificate of criminal-record clearance issued by their country of nationality or the country where they apply (Helsinki accepts only Finland or Estonia certificates). It is usually the slowest document in the file, so order it first.
| Country | Document usually used | Typical lead time |
|---|---|---|
| United States | FBI Identity History Summary (FBI or an FBI-approved channeler). Washington wants it issued within 3 months. Check whether your mission wants an apostille. | Days via channeler; weeks direct |
| United Kingdom | ACRO Police Certificate. The London embassy wants it issued within 6 months. | About 2–3 weeks |
| Ireland | Irish police (Garda) certificate | Varies |
| Canada | RCMP certified criminal record check (fingerprint-based) | Weeks |
| Australia | AFP National Police Check | Days to weeks |
| New Zealand | Ministry of Justice criminal record | Up to about 20 working days |
| Germany | Führungszeugnis (Bundesamt für Justiz) | About 1–2 weeks |
| France | Extrait de casier judiciaire, bulletin n°3 | Days (online) |
| Sweden | Utdrag ur belastningsregistret (Polisen) | About 1–2 weeks |
| India | Police Clearance Certificate via Passport Seva | Days to weeks |
| Japan | Criminal record certificate from prefectural police | About 1–2 weeks |
Lead times are indicative and were not checked against each issuing authority. Check its current processing times.
Four things that get certificates rejected
- Too old. Many missions want a certificate issued within the last 3–6 months on the day you submit (Washington: 3 months; London: 6 months).
- Wrong country. It must come from your nationality or your application country.
- Not translated or apostilled when the mission requires it.
- Incomplete scan. Upload every page, in colour, readable.
Timing it right
Work backwards from your submission date: certificate lead time, plus any apostille or translation, plus a week of buffer. The Stay180 tracker lists each document's typical lead time and age limit, with columns for your dates, so you can plan the order.
The Stay180 kit includes a document tracker that shows how long each document takes and when it expires, so your certificate is still valid on the day you submit.
Sources
Official sources, checked 2 November 2026. The Tokyo embassy PDF was offline that day, so it was last confirmed on 26 October 2026:
- Thailand e-Visa: Destination Thailand Visa
- Royal Thai Consulate-General Osaka announcement
- Royal Thai Embassy London announcement
- Royal Thai Embassy London: DTV
- Royal Thai Embassy Washington: DTV
- Royal Thai Consulate-General Los Angeles: DTV
- Royal Thai Embassy Tokyo: DTV requirements (PDF)
- Royal Thai Embassy Helsinki: DTV
The country documents and lead times above were not individually re-checked on 26 October 2026.
Build your file with the 2026 kit
Handbook, 10 letter templates and a document tracker, updated for the 31 August 2026 rules. $29, with 12 months of free rule updates.
See the kitLast checked 2 November 2026. Not legal advice; Stay180 is not affiliated with the Thai government. Confirm details on your mission's website.